Botany Classes Coming up in Chicago

How do seeds germinate and develop into mature plants? How do plants move water up through their roots to their topmost branches? This course will explore such subjects as the plant cell, anatomy and growth of roots, stems, and leaves, photosynthesis, and the symbiotic association of plant roots with beneficial fungi and bacteria. Prerequisite...

Our binomial system for plant names is a terrific system. Who decides on the name? Why do some names change? What's up with trademarks and patents? Take this class and get your plant name questions answered.

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Why, botanically speaking, is a tomato a fruit? What is the difference between a fern and a moss? Come join us in Botany 1 to learn the answers to these questions and more. We will explore the importance of plants to our lives; plant taxonomy and classification; and the life cycles, distinguishing features, and diversity of plants. Please Note: This...

Discover more than 60 outstanding conifers and broad-leaved evergreens for the Midwest. Students will learn identifying characteristics, cultural requirements, and landscape uses of conifers and broad-leaved evergreens ranging from shrubby dwarfs to towering trees. Prerequisite: Botany 1 Note: This will also register student for a Conifers...

Bring realism to your botanical artwork with a focus on identifying the morphological features of plants. Emphasizing specific plant parts in illustrations is critical to the identification of plant species in both scientific floras and identification manuals. Through a combination of lectures and lab/studio time, you will identify key characteristics...

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Delve into the many cultivars of deciduous trees. Explore their desirable characteristics and how they differ from the species. Learn to select the perfect tree for your next design project or home garden.

Category: Nature Studies Many of the grass-like plants you encounter in native habitats in the Chicago region and elsewhere are not actually grasses. Although similar looking, they are members of an entirely different family of plants. In this course you will study Carex, the largest and most diverse genus of the sedge family. Learn about the taxonomy,...

New! An herbarium is a collection of plant species preserved for scientific study. Understand general herbarium history, how herbarium sheets are used, their future importance, and different collecting approaches for a variety of plants. Collect, press, dry, and mount specimens during class. Flower presses will be provided. A map will be...

New! Cover the basics of mushroom collection and identification for the Chicago region. Learn simple, easy-to-find characteristics of common fungi including distinguishing cap gills and stipe features. Time will be spent outdoors identifying and collecting a few specimens. Dress for the weather. The School’s CEUs=5 hours OPC elective

With winter approaching, it is time to think about overwintering those wonderful tender perennials, Mediterranean, and tropical plants that you have grown to love over the summer. In this class, you will learn which plants will overwinter successfully and which ones are best to compost and buy new in spring. You will learn the best techniques...

Join Peter Nagle to discover wildflowers, sedges, rushes, and other native plants that inhabit our region’s wetlands. Learn how to identify a wide variety of wetland plants, while exploring their ecological function and aesthetic beauty. You’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of native wetland plants—as well as the invasive...

Join Jim Jabcon to identify some of the common trees and shrubs in the Chicago area long after the leaves have fallen off. You will learn the different features of twigs, buds, leaf scars, bark, growth habit, and much more. After the indoor presentation, we will take a walk in the McDonalds Woods to solve the mystery of identifying trees and shrubs...

Oak, elm, and beech once dominated the midwestern forests and our imaginations. From pre-settlement to today, discover the many ways humans, birds, animals, and insects have used and treasured these revered trees. We will examine where they are typically found in nature, their myriad uses over the centuries, folklore and stories, plus faunal partnerships....

These stalwarts of the landscape are hardy, easy to care for, and with proper siting and selection, can remain attractive for many years. Come and learn about the many options available from this great group of plants. Weather permitting, a short walk will be included.

Phenology is the study of the timing of natural events such as plant flowering and fruiting and animal migrations. This timing is critical for relationships between species; plants need to bloom when their pollinators are present, birds and insects need to hatch or migrate when food is available, and so on. As the climate changes some phenological...